Post by Critique on Mar 2, 2007 1:10:13 GMT -5
March 1, 2007
By JOHN MARTINS
BRIDGETON — Sgt. Robert Vanaman, a Millville police officer charged with killing his wife last year, was indicted Wednesday by a Cumberland County grand jury.
The indictment lists six counts against Vanaman, 37, who remains free on $500,000 bail. He is charged with murder, criminal restraint, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, tampering with evidence, hindering prosecution and obstructing the administration of law enforcement.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Ron Casella declined comment Wednesday.
“An indictment is not evidence of guilt,” said Joseph O'Neill, Vanaman's attorney.
Surprised, having been told of the indictment by a reporter, O'Neill said it will allow him access to evidence gathered by the Prosecutor's Office.
“I will be able to get the discovery, and as soon as I'm served with the copy of the indictment, we will plead not guilty because (Vanaman) is not guilty,” O'Neill said.
O'Neill said he was puzzled by the additional charge of criminal restraint and would not know why that charge was given until after he receives the indictment and the discovery package.
At the time of his arrest in November, Vanaman was charged with murder, hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and giving a fictitious report to law enforcement.
Vanaman, who pleaded not guilty to those charges, six months after the incident occurred, appeared in court in December for a probable cause hearing before Superior Court Judge Richard Geiger.
O'Neill requested the probable cause hearing to determine the validity of the state's claims against the 15-year police veteran. After hearing testimony from a detective from the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, Geiger ruled that the state had more than enough evidence to charge Vanaman.
O'Neill said Wednesday that he was interested in finding out why the Prosecutor's Office decided to bring in an out-of-state medical examiner after receiving the results from New Jersey's medical examiner.
“I understand the New Jersey medical examiner is well-respected. And that being true, I wonder why they have to bring in someone from the outside,” he said of Dr. David Fowler, Maryland's medical examiner.
O'Neill said he believes that the trial will hinge on expert testimony to determine whether his client acted in self-defense.
Vanaman's wife, Barbara, 37, was shot twice in the chest at the couple's Wedgewood Court home in Millville on May 11.
According to O'Neill, Vanaman used his service revolver in self-defense after his wife allegedly slashed him with a knife during an argument in the kitchen.
Prosecutors contend that most of the knife wounds Vanaman suffered were self-inflicted.
Now that an indictment has been handed up, trial proceedings can move forward.
“Nobody likes seeing a serious criminal charge like murder bestowed upon a client or anyone close. If (an indictment) is going to come, it is better earlier than later once the defense is prepared to do battle,” O'Neill said. He said Vanaman is currently undergoing counseling.
pressofatlanticcity.com/news/story/7250150p-7105478c.html
By JOHN MARTINS
BRIDGETON — Sgt. Robert Vanaman, a Millville police officer charged with killing his wife last year, was indicted Wednesday by a Cumberland County grand jury.
The indictment lists six counts against Vanaman, 37, who remains free on $500,000 bail. He is charged with murder, criminal restraint, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, tampering with evidence, hindering prosecution and obstructing the administration of law enforcement.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Ron Casella declined comment Wednesday.
“An indictment is not evidence of guilt,” said Joseph O'Neill, Vanaman's attorney.
Surprised, having been told of the indictment by a reporter, O'Neill said it will allow him access to evidence gathered by the Prosecutor's Office.
“I will be able to get the discovery, and as soon as I'm served with the copy of the indictment, we will plead not guilty because (Vanaman) is not guilty,” O'Neill said.
O'Neill said he was puzzled by the additional charge of criminal restraint and would not know why that charge was given until after he receives the indictment and the discovery package.
At the time of his arrest in November, Vanaman was charged with murder, hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and giving a fictitious report to law enforcement.
Vanaman, who pleaded not guilty to those charges, six months after the incident occurred, appeared in court in December for a probable cause hearing before Superior Court Judge Richard Geiger.
O'Neill requested the probable cause hearing to determine the validity of the state's claims against the 15-year police veteran. After hearing testimony from a detective from the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, Geiger ruled that the state had more than enough evidence to charge Vanaman.
O'Neill said Wednesday that he was interested in finding out why the Prosecutor's Office decided to bring in an out-of-state medical examiner after receiving the results from New Jersey's medical examiner.
“I understand the New Jersey medical examiner is well-respected. And that being true, I wonder why they have to bring in someone from the outside,” he said of Dr. David Fowler, Maryland's medical examiner.
O'Neill said he believes that the trial will hinge on expert testimony to determine whether his client acted in self-defense.
Vanaman's wife, Barbara, 37, was shot twice in the chest at the couple's Wedgewood Court home in Millville on May 11.
According to O'Neill, Vanaman used his service revolver in self-defense after his wife allegedly slashed him with a knife during an argument in the kitchen.
Prosecutors contend that most of the knife wounds Vanaman suffered were self-inflicted.
Now that an indictment has been handed up, trial proceedings can move forward.
“Nobody likes seeing a serious criminal charge like murder bestowed upon a client or anyone close. If (an indictment) is going to come, it is better earlier than later once the defense is prepared to do battle,” O'Neill said. He said Vanaman is currently undergoing counseling.
pressofatlanticcity.com/news/story/7250150p-7105478c.html